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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 13th, 2020–Mar 14th, 2020

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

North winds have redistributed recent snow and are creating wind slabs in some unusual locations. Stay warm out there.

Weather Forecast

The arctic push is on with moderate North winds in the alpine and Eastern gap winds moving through the valleys that will persist through to Sunday. Cold air has flooded the region and -30C is expected  overnight Friday in the alpine before some improvement Saturday afternoon .Expect winds to increase to strong in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

15-25cm of snow over the last 3 days has been redistributed by moderate winds of variable direction at treeline and above creating wind slabs in open areas. On steep solar a thin crust has formed on the surface. We continue to monitor the deep, weak facetted snow in the shallower areas of the park.

Avalanche Summary

Direct observation of a natural size 3 cornice release from the postcard face on Cascade mountain Wednesday. The avalanche ran 1700m to the top of the run out zone. Another size 2 wind slab was observed from the last 24 hours on a S facing slope at 2300m on Observation Peak. Some sluffing has been observed in steep terrain.

Confidence

Wind speed and direction is uncertain on Saturday

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.